€55 a day decides your paperwork.
- Host fills the IND form, does NOT sign"Proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation". Part 3a is accommodation, Part 3b is financial sponsorship; tick one or both S3.
- Host signs at the gemeenteBy appointment, in person, before a municipal official who legalises the signature (small fee, around €14). If the host is married or in a registered partnership and sponsoring financially, both partners sign and become jointly responsible.
- Original couriered to you in IndiaWith the host's income proof (stable income at least at Dutch minimum wage). The legalised form has a limited validity window, so it should be signed close to your application date, not months early.
Documents, in the order you should collect them.
0 of 0 collected
A · Forms and identity
Available through the VFS Netherlands India page; follow the route shown there for your application type.
Issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months beyond your exit from Schengen, 2 blank pages. Carry old passports with prior visas.
White background, taken within 6 months, neutral expression, biometric standard.
B · Travel proof
A reservation is enough; a paid ticket is not required. Refundable fares or airline holds are the safe route. Never submit a fabricated booking; PNRs get verified.
Hotel confirmations, or for stays with a host, the legalised private accommodation declaration (Part 3a of the IND form) described above. An informal invitation email is not a substitute.
Cities, dates and stays on one page, consistent with bookings. Our itinerary builder, in the build queue, will format this from your real plan.
Medical emergencies, hospitalisation and repatriation, valid in all Schengen states, full stay. All three conditions, not just the amount. The 30k rule explained.
C · Money and work
Read against the €55 per person per day reference. Comfortably above the math, consistent over 3 months, no sudden unexplained deposits.
Last 2 assessment years. Self-employed add company ITR.
Employer letter on letterhead with approved leave dates, plus last 3 salary slips.
Registration or GST certificate, company bank statements for 3 months, company ITR.
The legalised IND form (Part 3b ticked), original plus a colour copy, with the sponsor's income documents. Both partners' signatures if the sponsor is married. An Indian sponsor (parent, relative in India) instead follows the normal sponsor-letter route with their statements and ID.
D · Purpose
One page: who you are, when and where you travel, who pays, why you will return to India. If hosted, name your host and reference the legalised form so the officer connects the file. Our generator is in the build queue.
What you pay, in rupees.
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee, adult (12+) | €90 ≈ ₹8,000 to 9,400 | Paid in INR at the applicable rate, which moves. Confirm the day's figure at S2. |
| Visa fee, child 6 to 11 | €45 | Under 6: no visa fee. |
| VFS service fee | ~₹2,000 to 2,200 | Revised upward in Nov 2025; exact current figure at S2. |
| Host's legalisation fee | ~€14 | Paid by your host at their gemeente, only for the sponsored route. |
All visa and service fees are non-refundable, including on refusal. Getting the file right the first time is the only discount available.
Five steps, in order.
- Decide your funding route€55 per person per day from your own statements, or the sponsored route. If sponsored, your host starts the gemeente process now; it's the slowest piece.
- Form and VFS appointmentVia the VFS Netherlands India page S2. For May to August travel, book 6 to 8 weeks ahead.
- Build this fileCollect every ticked item, with the original legalised form in hand if hosted. Originals plus one photocopy set.
- Attend the appointmentBiometrics (valid 59 months), document submission, fee payment. VFS forwards; the Dutch authorities decide.
- Track and collectStandard processing is 15 calendar days; complete, coherent files often return sooner.
The refusal triggers specific to the Netherlands.
Verify everything here yourself.
- S1, NetherlandsWorldwide, official Dutch government consular site: netherlandsworldwide.nl. The €55 per person per day rule, sponsorship and accommodation pages, visa requirements.
- S2, VFS Global, Netherlands in India: visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/nld. Forms, service fees, centre list, appointment booking.
- S3, IND form, Proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation: downloadable from ind.nl/en, with the legalisation done at the host's municipality.
Last verified: NOT YET. A human checks every item against these sources before this page carries the verified stamp. Spotted something outdated at your appointment? Email us: contact coming soon.
Netherlands-specific quick answers.
How much money per day is enough?
The official Dutch reference is €55 per person per day, shown in your bank statements beyond what you've already paid for. Below that, the Netherlands expects a sponsor through the IND form route.
What exactly must my host in the Netherlands do?
Fill the IND form without signing it, book a gemeente appointment, sign before the official who legalises the signature, then courier you the original with their income documents. Married or registered-partner sponsors sign jointly. Tell your host to start early; the appointment and courier are the slow steps.
My host is married. One signature enough?
Not for financial sponsorship: both partners sign and become jointly responsible for your costs. For accommodation-only declarations the rules can differ by situation, so the host should confirm at their municipality.
Does the original form really need to reach India?
Yes. The original legalised form plus a colour copy goes into your file, and the form has a limited validity window after legalisation. Sequence it: host signs, courier ships, you apply within the window.